Intro:

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova advanced to the last four of the Brisbane International on Thursday where they will now face each other for a place in the final.

Script:

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are set to renew their long and not-so-friendly rivalry after both advanced to the semi finals at the Brisbane International.

The pair played back-to-back quarterfinals on center court, with third-seeded Sharapova needing two hours to beat 2012 Brisbane champion Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

She dropped three service games in the first set before staging her comeback against the Wolrd No. 30 Kanepi.

Top-ranked Williams, the defending champion, was next on court and didn't lose a single point on serve in the first set en route to a 6-3, 6-3 win over ninth-seeded Diminika Cibulkova of Slovakia.

Any friendship the pair had soured when they traded personal barbs relating to their romantic relationships.

Sharapova has only played two matches since August, both here in Brisbane.

Williams had a spectacular year, meanwhile, winning 78 of her 82 matches and capturing 11 titles, including two majors to increase her Grand-Slam total to 17.